Editorial method
This page sets out the editorial method for the reference project. The aim is to make each material claim traceable to a source and to keep the limits of that evidence visible.
Identify the source before describing it
A document guide records the title, edition date, responsible institution when identifiable, length of the recovered PDF and external access routes. Its publication date, archive capture date and the guide's editorial date are separate fields with separate meanings.
Recovery records retain the downloaded file, source URL and SHA-256 checksum for identification. A checksum helps establish that the same local file was used; it does not independently establish authenticity, copyright status or completeness against a missing publisher's original.
Preserve edition differences
Initial recommendations, consultation documents and adopted plans are labeled separately. When an earlier file has not been recovered, the guide says so. A later edition may provide context, but it is not presented as an identical replacement.
Descriptions of an adopted edition should not be silently applied to an earlier draft. A comparison should name the editions and evidence actually examined.
Use primary sources for substantive findings
Original plans, official assessments and agency records are preferred for claims about the planning process. Catalog records help identify publications. An archive provides access to a preserved copy; it does not convert the archive operator into the author of the document.
Original editorial interpretation is distinguished from an institution's conclusion. Suggested research uses and reading questions are the guide author's contribution, rather than attributed intentions of a council unless a source supports that attribution.
Keep evidence types distinct
| Evidence type | What it can establish |
|---|---|
| Observation | A measured or recorded condition, subject to the dataset's scope and qualifiers |
| Forecast | An expectation under assumptions, from a particular publication vintage |
| Model result | A calculated outcome under a defined scenario and method |
| Recommendation | An action proposed or selected in a document |
| Recorded decision | A stated action of the identified decision-maker |
| Implementation evidence | What a dated project, monitoring or delivery record shows actually occurred |
Moving from one category to another requires supporting evidence. A recommendation is not reported as a completed project, and a model output is not relabeled as a measurement.
Compare like with like
Comparisons check geography, sectors, baseline, future year, units, model and definitions. Where these differ, the difference is explained. Counts of practices or documents are not used as automatic measures of policy quality or implementation success.
When only part of a source is available, the scope of the review is stated. Missing information is not filled with plausible but unverified conclusions.
Original writing and source access
Guides provide independently written descriptions and outbound source links. They do not reproduce full reports, photographs, maps or substantial source tables. Availability for download is treated separately from permission to republish.
No default license for the underlying documents is implied by their appearance in this library. Rights and terms should be checked with the relevant source before further reuse.
Dates, maintenance and corrections
The date shown on a page identifies the stated editorial review, not continuous live verification. External links can stop working after that date. A material correction should identify the affected claim, supporting evidence and change made, rather than merely refreshing the date.
Correction reports are most useful when they include a page URL, the sentence or table entry concerned, the proposed correction and an authoritative source with a page or section reference. See contact and corrections.
This method does not claim external peer review or professional endorsement. The actual publisher and responsible party are identified on the about page once their details have been completed.